Foldable table



28, 1937. J. VAN KOOTEN FOLDABLE TABLE Filed May' 25, I1935 2 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 28, 1937. L VAN KOOTEN 2,103,703

FOLDABLE TABLE lFiled May 25, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Dec. Z8, 1937 UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE TABLE Jacob van Kooten, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 25, 1935, serial No. 23,481

17 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of tables and pertains particularly to the type of table whichY may be folded o-r disassembled.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a table of an easily transportable type,

such as a card or camp table, which may be readily taken apart and folded up for transportation, the construction being such that the table mlay be folded and Yplaced in a relatively small conveniently handled case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable table having a novel top construction and a novel means of coupling the top with a foldablle bordering frame.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a folding table, a novel foldable top construction associated with novel means for coupling supporting legs therewith whereby the foldable top'frarne is secured in a rigid manner. 20 Still another object of the invention is to provide in a table of the character described, meansV for supporting ash trays at each corner which serves the additional function of securing relatively movable parts in fixed relation.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no `material departurefrom the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

) In the drawings:-

Figure l is a view in top planof the table, portions of the same being broken away.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. f

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1. Y

Fig. 5 is a sectionalview taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Fig. 6 is a view showing, in elevation, the top and side rails rolled up together.

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 'lof Figure 6. i Fig. 8k is a view in elevation of a carrying case for the folded table. Y

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the table comprises a top bordering frame,

which is indicated generally by the numeral I, and which consists of the four side pieces 2, 3, 4 and 5. These pieces of the top frame are in pairs, that is, the pieces or bars 2 and 3 form one pair and the bars 4 and 5 form the second 5 pair, the pieces of each pair being of like construction.A Each of the bars is in the form of a tubularmember of elongated rectangular cross Y section and each has each end formed or mergy ing into a cylindrical hinge knuckle 6. The hinge l0 knuckle at one end of each bar is of approximately half the height of the bar, while that one at the other end is slightly shorter, terminating short of the top of the bar of which it forms a part. The hinge knuckles 6 at adjacent ends of 15 the bars are in overlapping or aligned relation Vand the shortened knuckle of one bar engages with the shortened knuckle of the adjacent bar so that two opposite corners will have shortened hinge knuckles, while the other two opposite 20 corners will have knuckles which extend to the planes of the top and bottom edges of the bars.

The shortened aligned hinge knuckles are permanently pivotally coupled together by a thimble 1 which has a flange I at each end which 25 projects outwardly over the adjacent V,hinge knuckle and this ange is of such a thickness that its top'surface lies in the plane of the outer edge of the adjacent bar, as illustrated in Figure 2. The other opposite pairs of hinge knuckles are detachably pivotally coupled by straight thimbles la, as illustrated in Figure 4. These thimbles are designed to be slipped out of the knuckles which they couple together so that the bars which are permanently joined by the thimbles 1 may 35 be folded into back to back relation.

The opposed inner sidewalls of the pair of rails 2 and 3 have relatively wide slots or openings formed therein and throughout the length thereof, as indicated at 8', and the lowerredge of 40 each of these slots merges into a relatively wide inwardly projecting lip 9. The opposed inner walls of the other pair of bars have only slots therein, as indicated at I0, and these are materially narrower than the slots in the bars 2 45 and 3 and are without the flanges associated with the slots 8.

The top proper for the table is indicated generally by the numeral Il and comprises a plurality of slats l2 of channel shape or formation, 50 the sides I3 of the slats being in abutting relation and directed downwardly so that the connecting portions between the sides of the slats which go to make up the top are in the samer plane and form a relatively smooth top surface. 55

y desirable.

Over this top surface a suitable covering fabric I4 is placed and glued to the slats. In addition,

the outside flange i3 of each outside slat may.

have any suitable means associated therewith for securing the fabric thereto after the fabric has been turned down across the outer side of the ange.

The anges of the slats l2 are provided with alined openings I6 and through these openings a suitable elastic securing element l?, such as a spring or the like, is passed and is secured at its ends to the outside flange of each outside slat so that all of the slats going to make up the top of the table are resiliently joined or secured together. When these outside flanges of the outside slats are disposed in their respective bars 4 5, the springs will be located in suitable vertical slots iii as shown in Figure 3. In addition, each slat has an inwardly or downwardly struck spur i8 at each end over which a turned in portion of the top covering fabric is hooked.

In the assembled top structure, the outside slats l 2 are disposed longitudinally of the bordering bars 4 and 5 with the outside iiange of the slat disposed inside the bar and the top lying in the slot ifi in the manner illustrated in Figure i and the ends of the slats are inserted into the slots 8 of the other bordering bars and rest upon the lips or flanges S. In assembling the top, the bars l and 5 are rst coupled with the outside slats, in the manner illustrated in Figure 3, and this coupling remains permanent. When the end bars 2 and 3 are then swung into position across the ends of the slats forming the top, the said top slats will slip into the slots 8 and the separable knuckles will come into position one over the other so that the coupling thimbles 'ia may be slipped thereinto. Thereafter, in assembling and disassembling the table, the bars 4 and 5 will remain permanently connected with the top and only the bars 2 and 3 will be separated and swung back against the other bars to which they are joined.

The legs of the table are indicated by the numeral i9 and each is formed in two separable sections 2D and 2! so that by taking off the lower sections, a short legged or camp table will be formed. The upper end of each leg is hollow and threaded interiorly and is adapted to eX- tend into a thimble '1, or a thirnble id, a suitable collar 22 being formed thereon to limit the extent to which the leg may enter the thimble. It is preferred that the upper end of the leg be prevented from coming all the way to the top of the thimble in which it is located so that the two portions of the hinge may be drawn together tightly by means of the screw 23 which is inserted into the upper end of the leg for threaded engagement therewith. The head of this screw is in the form of a wide plate 24 having a surrounding ange 25 which forms the head into a receptacle adapted to receive a glass cup 25 for use as an ash tray. It will be readily seen when the head 24 of the screw is drawn down on to the upper one of the hinge knuckles, the two knuckles Will be clamped between the head and the collar 22 of the leg so as to rmly bind the ends of the top frame together.

It will be understood, of course, that the use of this receptacle like head is not required as it will be obvious that a screw with a simple or ordinary bolt head may be employed if found It will also be understood that while the hinge connection between the rails has been illustrated as hinge knuckles formed integrally with the rails, the invention is not to be limited to this specic structure as any other suitable form of hinge may be employed.

Figure 5 represents acontainer for the foldable table in which the top, after being rolled up with the folded side rails therefor may be slipped together with the legs and the ash receptacles. This table receptacle or bag is indicated generally by the numeral 2'1 and may be provided with one or two pockets as illustrated te receive cards or other accessories for use on the table.

It will, of course, be appa-rent .that while all of the legs are detached from the top by removing the ash receptacles, only the two thimbles, indicated by the numerals la, are removed to permit the folding of the topl frame Aand when these are tak-en out the frame rails 2 and 3 may then be folded hack against the rails 4- and 5 to which they are coupled permanently by the thimble Because of the elastic connection between the slats of the top, the latter may then be rolled with the folded frame rails into a conipact bundle.

I claim:-

`l. In a table having a top adapted to be rolled into a compact unit, a frame adapted to receive and encircle the tcp comprising a. series of bars, means hingedly coupling the ends of the bars together at two diagonal corners of the frame, means securing the top within and below the plane of the top of the frame bars when the bar ends at the other diagonal corners are joined together, and legs each detachably coupled with the frame at the corners thereof.

2. In a table, a rectangular top frame comprising a plurality of rails, means permanently hingedly coupling said rails at two diagonalcorners of the frame, alined tubular elements at the other corners of the frame, a leg at each of the diagonal corners having an end extended through a coupling means, a leg at each of the other corners having an end extended through the tubular elements, means engaging the top end of two bars may be swung into back-to-back relation with the bar to which it is hingedly connected, said connecting means at the frame corners consisting of alined tubular elements, legs each having an end extended through the alined elements at a corner of the frame, means engaging each leg for securing the same in its corner elements, a top within the frame which is adapted to be rolled, means permanently connecting each of two sides of the top with an inner side of a frame bar, and means for detachably coupling the other sides of the top with the inner sides of the frame bars adj-acent thereto.

4. A foldable table, comprising a frame made up of a plurality of bars, a cylindrical hinge knuckle at each end of each bar which projects beyond the bar end and alined with the knuckle of an adjacent bar, leg members each having an end extended through two alined hinge knuckles, a sleeve in the alined knuckles at two diagonal corners of -the Lframe permanently coupling the adjacent knuckles together kand surrounding thefadia'cent legend, means ydetaehably lengaging ther -endof each :leg `which is within the hinge `knuckles for `securing th'e leg therein, .and va top secured within the frame.

5. A foldable ytable lcomprising a :frame made up of Va lplurality of rails, "a @cylindrical hinge knuckle at each end of each rail -ad-aptedfto coact with the knuckle Vofan :adjacent rail,1a tubular thimble extending through and .pivotally joining each coacting pair of hinge knuckles, leg `members-each.having an end adapted for insertion into a thimble, 'a 'securing velement 'detachably secured in the said lend of teach leg member, and securing `the hinge knuckles, thirnble and leg together, and a top detachably secured within the frame.

6. In a-table, a top frame comprising a plurality of rails, means hingedly joining the rails `togetherat their ends, said means facilitating the separation of the joined rail ends, leg `members each detachably'securedto the frame,'each of said frame rails being of tubular formation andhaving avslot formed longitudinally of its inner side, the slots of two opposite `rails being of greater width than the slots -of the other rails, a top comprising -a pluralityof elements disposed inside byside relation, means joining the velements facilitating the folding of the top, and means along two opposite sides of the top for engaging the said sides in the narrower rail slots, the opposite side edges of the top being insertable into the wider rail slots.

'7. In a table, a top comprising a central portion and an encircling frame, Said frame being made up of a plurality of bars having end connection one with another, certain of said connections being of a pivotal character facilitating the folding of one bar in back-to-back relation with another, said central portion comprising a plurality of long members resiliently connected to facilitate the rolling of the said portion, the outer ones of said members each being permanently joined to the inner side of one bar of said frame whereby the folded bars and the central portion may be rolled together, and legs each detachably coupled with the frame.

8. In a table, a top frame comprising a plurality of bars having their ends joined to form corners, certain of said corners being pivotal and the other corners being separable permitting the folding of the frame, a top within said frame comprising a plurality of long members flexibly joined in longitudinal edge-to-edge relation, means permanently joining the outer side of each outside member of the top with the inside of a bar below the top of the latter, means for detachably coupling the ends of the members to the inner sides of the other bars below the top of the latter, and legs each detachably coupled with arcorner of the frame.

9. A table, comprising a rigid top of a character to be rolled up, a frame encircling the top and made up of a series of rails, means hingedly coupling certain adjacent ends of said rails, means detachably coupling the remaining adjacent ends of the rails, two opposite ones of said rails having slots in their inner faces in which is Secured an edge of the top which extends lengthwise with the same when rolled, the other opposite rails each having a recess in its inner side into which one of the other edges ofthe top is removably inserted, and supporting legs detachably coupled with the frame.

l0. In a table, a top fraine comprising a plural- -ity -of bars, rr'iear'is -hirigedly joining the rails together at 'their ends, Said means `facilitating the Yseparati'on of certain of the rail ends to permit the same 'to be 'folded in parallel relation with the adjacent bars, leg lmembers each detachably secured to the frame, `each of said frame bars being of 'tubular formation and having a slot formed longitudinally of its inner side, the slots of two opposite bars being of greater width than the slots of the other bars, a top comprising a plurality of elements joined in side-by-side relation, means joining the elements facilitating the folding of the top, and connecting means along the outer edges vof the outer ones of said elements for engagement inthe narrower rail slots, the opposite side edges of the top being insertable into the wider bar' slots.

1l. In a table, a rectangular frame forming one part of atop structure and comprising a plurality of bars, means permanently hingedly coupling said bars at two diagonal corners of the frame, alined tubular elements at the other corners of the frame, a leg at each of the diagonal corners having an end extended through a rcoupling means, a leg at each of the other corners having an end extended through the tubular elements, means securing the top end of each leg to the frame, a top body forming the other part of the top structure and which is of a character to be rolled up, means permanently coupling each of two opposite edges of said top body with the adjacent bar, and each of the other frame bars having an opening longitudinally of its inner face to receive the adjacent other edges of the top body.

12. A foldable table, comprising a frame made up of a plurality of bars of substantially tubular formation, a cylindrical hinge knuckle atr each end of each bar which projects beyond the bar end and alines with the knuckle of an adjacent ybar, leg members each having an end removably inserted through two alined hinge knuckles, a sleeve in and permanently coupling the alined knuckles at two diagonal corners of the frame and surrounding the inserted leg end, means detachably maintaining the inserted leg ends in the knuckles, each of said bars having an opening formed through and longitudinally of its inner side, a top of a character to be folded and having two opposite edges secured in the openings of two opposite bars, the other edges of the top being insertable in the other bar openings, and a top supporting lip formed along the lower edges of and extending inwardly from the said other bar openings.

13. In a folding table, a top part consisting of a frame made up of bar members and a top unit within the frame which is of a character to be folded, means hingedly coupling the said bar members at diagonal corners of the frame, the other corners of the frame being detachably connected, each of two opposite bar members having an opening formed longitudinally of its inner side, said top unit having two opposite edges secured to the other two bar members and adapted Ato have its other edges removably engaged in the openings of the other bar members, and leg members each detachably coupled with a corner of the frame.

14. 4A foldable table, comprising a frame made up of a plurality of bars of substantially tubular formation, a cylindrical hinge knuckle at each end of each bar which projects beyond the bar Cai end and alines with the knuckle of an adjacent bar, leg members each having an end removably inserted through two alined hinge knuckles, a sleeve in and permanently coupling the alined knuckles at two diagonal corners of the frame and surrounding the inserted leg end, securing means for each of said legs comprising a body adapted to overlie and engage the top one of each two alined knuckles and a threaded stem eX tending from the body downwardly into and threadably coupled with the adjacent leg end, and a top secured within the frame.

15. A foldable table, comprising a frame made up of a plurality of bars of substantially tubular formation, a cylindrical hinge knuckle at each end of each bar which projects beyond the bar end and alines with the knuckle of an adjacent bar, leg members each having an end removably inserted through two alined hinge knuckles, a sleeve in and permanently coupling the alined knuckles at two diagonal corners of the frame and surrounding the inserted leg end, securing means for each leg comprising a plate body of a diameter greater than and adapted to rest upon the top one of the adjacent two alined knuckles, and having means to receive a container, a screw carried by each plate body and threaded downwardly into the top of the underlying leg, and a top secured within the frame.

16. In a folding table, a top part consisting of a frame made up of bar members and a top unit within the frame which is of a character to be folded, means hingedly coupling said bar members at diagonal corners of the frame, the other corners of the frame being detachably connected, each of two opposite bar members having an opening formed longitudinally of its inner side, .said top unit having two opposite edges secured to the other two bar members and adapted to have its other edges removably engaged in the openings of the other bar members, and leg members each detachably coupled with a corner of the frame, each of said leg members being in two detachably coupled parts.

17. In a folding table, a top part consisting of a frame made up of bar members and a top unit within the frame which is of a character to be folded, means hingedly coupling said bar members at diagonal corners of the frame, the other corners of the frame being detachably connected, each of two opposite bar members having an -opening formed longitudinally of its inner side, said top unit having two opposite edges secured to the other two bar members and adapted to have its other edges removably engaged in the openings of the other bar members, each of said bar members having its ends miter-cut and abutting the Initer-cut end of the adjacent bars, said couplings between the adjoining ends of the bars being at the outer sides of the corners formed Yby the abutting ends, and leg members each de tachably coupled with a corner of the frame.

JACOB VAN VKOOTEN. 

